Illinois gubernatorial election, 2002

Illinois gubernatorial election, 2002
Illinois
November 5, 2002

 
Nominee Rod Blagojevich Jim Ryan
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Pat Quinn Carl Hawkinson
Popular vote 1,847,040 1,594,961
Percentage 52.19% 45.07%

County Results

Governor before election

George Ryan
Republican

Elected Governor

The 2002 Illinois gubernatorial election pitted Congressman Rod Blagojevich and state Attorney General Jim Ryan. Rod Blagojevich won 52% to 45%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rod Blagojevich 457,197 36.50
Democratic Paul Vallas 431,728 34.47
Democratic Roland Burris 363,591 29.03
Total votes 1,252,516 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Ryan 410,074 44.68
Republican Patrick O'Malley 260,860 28.42
Republican Corrine Wood 246,825 26.89
Republican Write-ins 69 0.01
Total votes 917,828 100.00

General election

Campaign

In the general election, Blagojevich defeated Republican Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan by a solid margin. Ethics scandals had plagued the previous administration of Republican George Ryan, who had no relation to Jim, and Blagojevich's campaign focused on the theme of "ending business as usual" in state government. During the campaign, Blagojevich played on the name of his opponent by asking "How can you replace one Ryan with another Ryan and call that change? You want change? Elect a guy named Blagojevich."[2]

Results

Although the election was thought to be a close one early on in the campaign, Blagojevich's big numbers out of Cook County, was too much for the Republicans to come back from.

Illinois gubernatorial election, 2002[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Rod Blagojevich 1,847,040 52.19% +4.73%
Republican Jim Ryan 1,594,961 45.07% -5.96%
Libertarian Cal Skinner 73,794 2.09%
Independent Marisellis Brown 23,089 0.65%
Majority 252,080 7.12% +3.55%
Turnout 3,538,891
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References

  1. 1 2 "Ballots Cast". Elections.illinois.gov. 2002-03-19. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  2. Lin, Joanna (December 10, 2008). "He campaigned as a reformer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. "Ballots Cast". Elections.illinois.gov. 2002-11-05. Retrieved 2015-04-04.

See also

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